Charley horse is another name for a muscle spasm. Charley horses can occur in any muscle, but they’re most common in the legs. These spasms are marked by uncomfortable muscle contractions.

If the contracting muscles don’t relax for several seconds or more, the pain can be severe. Severe charley horses can result in muscle soreness that lasts anywhere from a few hours to a day. This is normal, so long as the pain isn’t prolonged or recurring.

Charley horses are generally treatable at home, especially if they’re infrequent. However, frequent muscle spasms are often linked to underlying health conditions that need medical treatment.

Your doctor can help you determine the cause of frequent charley horses. And you can implement treatments and preventive measures to increase your comfort.

Many people experience charley horses during sleeping hours and are awakened because of them.

Muscle spasms that cause charley horses while you sleep are common. However, why these nighttime spams occur isn’t entirely understood. It’s believed that lying in bed in an awkward position for a long time plays a role.

The occasional charley horse doesn’t require an official medical diagnosis. However, your doctor should investigate frequent, recurrent muscle spasms. This would apply if a charley horse occurs more than once a week without an adequate explanation.

Your doctor can usually make a diagnosis based on your medical history and a physical examination.

MRI scans may be helpful in determining whether nerve compression is the cause of frequent charley horses. An MRI machine uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create a detailed image of your body’s internal structures.

Laboratory work may also be needed to rule out low potassium, calcium, or magnesium levels.

You may be referred to a physical therapist or other specialist if your doctor suspects nerve damage or other complex causes.

The treatment for charley horses depends on the underlying cause. If a charley horse is exercise-induced, simple stretches and massages can help relax the muscle and stop it from contracting.

Heating pads can accelerate the relaxation process, while an ice pack can help numb the pain. If your muscle is still sore after a muscle spasm, your doctor may recommend a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen.

There are certain massages and stretches that can provide immediate relief and prevent potential pain when you experience a charley horse.

During a charley horse, you can use your hands to apply pressure to the site of the cramp to relieve pain. You can also try using both of your thumbs to gradually apply pressure to the site of the cramp until the pain goes away.

If your charley horse is in your leg, you can try to relieve the pain by doing the following stretches:

standing up

stepping the leg that isn’t experiencing muscle cramping forward into a lunge

straightening the back of the leg that is experiencing the cramp and lunging forward on the front leg

You can also stand on the tips of your toes for a few seconds to stretch your calf muscles.